Equivalence Principles are Confirmed – Gravitational and Inertial Masses are Equal.

Abstract

The equivalence Principles of general relativity are an open question of physics – the relationship between the gravitational mass (m_g) and the inertial mass (m_i) of an object is unknown. Solving this problem is essential for testing variants of alternative theories of gravity, predicting the failure of the relationship m_g = m_i. Experimental tests of the relationship m_g = m_i, are based on the Universal Free Fall (UFF) approach: “a comparison of accelerations of two masses, having a variety of material compositions, falling into an external gravitational field”. The UFF approach can only confirm the relationship m_g ≠ m_i, but not the relationship m_g = m_i because of experimental errors. We confirm the relationship m_g = m_i using a new approach: “a study of a single mass at rest relative to a massive object”. We also show that conservation of energy is a sufficient condition for m_g = m_i. We conclude that alternative theories of gravity must be constrained by the relationship m_g = m_i.